The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-05-27
THE FRESlIET.

Z -
sYs HARRIET PRESCOTT sPoFFoRD.
From Harper's Bazar.
We had been engaged, Mark and I,
since We were babies, so to say; that
is, when he was still in knickerbock-
ers, and ] was just out OF bibs, We
had decided that when we grew up and
had a house of our own, it was to be
our own, his and mine, and there we
were to live together and live alone;
and ii the chef of our diet there was
to be apple.tarts and butter-scotches,
that was our own affair.
J. tits a thousand pities that it was
about that house that all the rout
happened. For the fact is, had tho
strongest sort OF will. and SO had
Mark; and when it came to the point
it wasn't that house at all that l
wanted.
For, You see, the spot where ! lived,
down on the great meadow farms,
was my sole idea Of the beauty and
p.aasantness ofthe world. Across the
river, withits high bank crowned with
feathery and always trembling and
shining birches, the hills rose, far and
faint and purple and vague; but here
there were only the long green levels Of
grass fields lying low and even with the
river that filed and spnrkled in reeds
along theedge, and flowed by US broad
ana grand on its way to the sea. And
when the sun shone, and the sky was
blue, and tho south wind was softly
blowing, one seemed as near heaven
living there, rs it is given one to be on
earth.
There were quite q number of dwell
ing-houses here, where the corners of
several of the great river farms con,
syerged, 40 that, although their land
stretched out in different directions,
the buildings clustered together like a
village, and we always came and went
freely in each others houses. and
knew each others concerns. and were
more like one large family than stran-
gers; and ] loved my neighbors, every
one, and didn't want to go away from
them. And whenit came to the ques-
tion OF marrying and going away,
was simply determined that Iwouldn't +
70 away, but that Mark should come
down to this little Garden OF Eden,
where ] knew every tint OF the ripe
grass ON the meadow, every sparkle
OF the water, avery fleece OF cloud up
on the blue OF heaven.
".And why not, Mark?' urged.
Hers is this immense farm, really
great property, and would you leave
it to take care OF itself, and we go to
live two miles Hway on your fathers
place, that bleak, isaesome rock up
in tho air, shut in by pine forest.
Iike u great fortress--a prison, q real
,dnngeon?"
y ! IT isn't a prison to me, said Mark.
5.sIt Is the brightest spot IN the world.--
it would bell you were in IL, Nan"
My real name is Pamela: but that is
the way people always used me.
And no neighbors there!" lexclaim-
ed ,Ittnobody to run in OF an evening.
nobody to talk to over the garden
wali. nobody to borrow OF. nobody to
show yonp new things to, nobody Il
you're sick. One might as we'll be
buried alive. l always thought So"
II should want nobody but you,
Nan, # we were married and that was
our home. 1t would be simply i,ara-
disc
ut wouldn't be paradise to me
without any water to see. never
liked the verse in the bible about there
being no more sea. Pretty heaven
that, without any sea to look
ut! / couldn't live without my
river. I've always had it run
ming by, running up or running down.
coming from somewhere ,goingto some
where, life and motion. / alwayslook
out the first thing in the morning to
seeif ita still there, and listen for it
at pight. And it makes two skies by
nisht-one above and one below-with
etars down in the underworld; and
then by day the color, the changing
light and color, ana the pushing OF the
tide, taking you right into the myster-
ics, Oh, it's stagnation without the
riveYf I'd as lief be dead"
4 ssAnd think just as much OF the
pine woods" he said, with the ever
lasting inurniur Of the boughs. And
when q wind begins TO blow, long be-
fore we feel it down beiow. the tree
tops know it, and are Whispering
about it to one another, like old
witches brewing q storm"
sol sarden there in your fathers old
place. went on, without needing;
"ilnd here are these long rich grass
sands. And how in the world are we
to manage q farm two miles away
from it, ] should like to know"
s.I know" said Mark. "Easby;
Just as you do two rods away"
ats impossible" said /. "You
don't understand anything about
the oversight and care that a great
farm needs if you think that"
well, we could sell the farm you
know,
..Sell the farm.n cried, starting up.
3s.Nly fathers, my grandfather s, my
grent-grnndfath her -
Your Noah's your Adam's-"
How do yon dare talk SO to me,
Marx Myees, about my home!'' /
cried, more vsAsd and more.
II shouldn't thisk you had called
my home q prison ana . dungeon,
he retorted.
sssyelL it is! the eloomiest. the
Nov hush, my darling; hush, you
little vixen" said Mark, laughing,
with his hands on my lips, cor you'll
say something yoanis ue sorry for"
Yon'vc said something you'll be
sorry for" I cried --"cailing me a
yixels. may be vixen, but
Ill you xere a gentleman But
The Myerses always were tyrants,
and TIM glad Pve found you out in
aiHles 10 calm and SO cool, and SO
ixed in your own way. And I'll new
d. never, 20 and has in your old pris-
ofl-honse. /" cried. growing ,angrier
and angrier. Heaven only knows Why.
ssAnd You mag just whistle Tor your
dog. and go there yourself, and go